CENTRAL EUROPE: Austria to start negotiations on migration agreement with Uzbekistan ― NGOs denounce ‘Russian style’ draft law ― Germany to cut funding for independent legal counselling ― Work starting on new fence on Poland-Belarus border ― Swiss government rejects population cap proposal
The Austrian government has given the green light to open negotiations with Uzbekistan on a possible migration agreement. The Czech government is preparing controversial legislation that could tighten rules for NGOs. The German ministry of the interior has announced...
OP-ED: EU Return Policy at a Crossroads
By Reshad Jalali The existing EU Return Directive (2008) – although far from perfect (see ECRE’s previous analysis) – does contain a number of safeguards intended to prevent arbitrary decision-making, guarantee access to justice and protect individuals from being...
OP-ED: Belgian Migration Minister ignores Constitutional Court ruling…and is met with almost no political resistance
By Helene Asselman One may wonder why it still comes as a surprise that measures aimed at deterring people on the move not only cross every boundary of decency but increasingly also breach legal limits. However, many a lawyer both in and outside the migration sector...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: UN expresses alarm over violations against people on the move in Egypt ― Israeli court suspends government’s ban on NGOs operating in Gaza and West Bank ― UN reports almost 700,000 people displaced in Lebanon ― NGO raises concerns about integration of people on the move in Morocco
A group of experts from the United Nations (UN) has expressed alarm over violations against people on the move in Egypt. The Supreme Court of Israel has suspended the government’s recent decision to order a large number of NGOs to halt their operations in Gaza and the...
BELGIUM: Constitutional Court suspends restrictive asylum procedures; Minister refuses to comply ― More than 43,000 unaccompanied minors reported in 10 years ― Increase in small boat departures from coast
A federal government minister has defied a court ruling that ordered the suspension of a number of asylum measures. A new report has revealed that more than 43,000 unaccompanied minors were reported to the Federal Public Service Justice’s Guardianship Service between...
POLAND: NGO report reveals extent of pushbacks on Poland-Belarus border ― Prime Minister boasts about possibility of laying mines on eastern border ‘within 48 hours’ ― End of special status for Ukrainian refugees
A new NGO report has revealed high numbers of pushbacks and violence against people on the move on Poland’s eastern borders. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stated that Poland would be able to start laying mines along its border with Russia following its...
Fourth Anniversary of the Activation of the Temporary Protection Directive
Wednesday 4 March marked the fourth anniversary of the activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). Originally adopted in 2001, the TPD was activated on 4 March 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the latest data...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: UN publishes damning report on ‘systematic’ abuse of people on the move in Libya ― Increase in arbitrary arrests and unlawful deportations of people on the move in Egypt ― UN reaffirms support for authorities in Türkiye despite NGO concerns about rights violations
A new United Nations report has highlighted the extent of human rights violations and abuses that are being committed against people on the move in Libya. The unlawful detention and deportation of people on the move in Egypt appears to have increased in recent months....